Raincharm’s Weblog

Happy Birthday!
Just so you know I never really forget, I am just usually later than most.
I hope you have the day off and get to spend it doing fun activities, like quilting, sewing, bicycling, walking, reading, eating, and relaxing.

It is raining – hard, and the wind is expected to pick up through the evening.

I plan to snuggle into a blanket, and maybe watch a little TV, or maybe even a movie.
Last night I was snuggled into a blanket doing a crossword and the phone rang.
It was for me, but just my carpooler and Carl could readily translate.
He accused me of not getting out of my Snuggie.
We don’t really have a Snuggie, but for cold folks like me, it doesn’t look as ridiculous as people make it out to be.

The last few days were absolutely fantastic.

7 of my wonderful second family came down to help me celebrate my 20th birthday properly – Stephi, Kailey, Ali, Scott, Lisi, Yeolee and Jason.

We came down on wednesday afternoon after a tiring day full of packing and moving.  In my car, Ali managed to have a gargantuan nosebleed after he held his breath going through a tunnel.  His nose literally started gushing blood and it took it about half an hour to fully stop.  20 of those minutes were spent at a gas station about 10 minutes from the border, and we were lucky that it finally fully stopped about a minute before we had to talk to the border guard.

That night managed to be a little less eventful, as we just ate some delicious fast food only found in Seattle (courtesy of the awe-inspiring Dick’s Drive In) and all piled onto the couch/floor of the living room to watch a movie (Stomp the Yard – also awe-inspiring, but for different reasons …).

The next day we began by heading to U-Village, because Stephi wanted to stop by Anthropologie to do some shopping, and after that we headed over to Broadway for about an hour, spending most of our time in a goofy thrift store trying on ridiculous clothing.  We then headed to Ezells for the best fried chicken in Seattle, managing to get there right as my old high school (which is right across the street) was getting out for the day.  After eating we headed downtown, and from there walked to Pike Place Market and lazed in the sun at the park right next to it for a few hours reading The Stranger and enjoying the fantastic view of the water.  Then we headed home for a second before walking to a park near the house to throw a baseball around, enjoy the last rays of sunlight, and play on the swingset.  After that came indian food at Taste of India and then an early night.  Little did I know the prodding for an early night was only for the purpose of sneaking up to my room to scare me at midnight.  It didn’t work, but we staged a photoshoot as though it did.

The next day was a little less crazed, including a trip to the zoo and ice cream by greenlake, and then batting practice followed by the Mariner game (which was absolutely fantastic!!!!).  We managed to get 4 of my friends baseballs at batting practice, and to almost get hit by two balls that were hit out.  After the game we headed to Gasworks park for the most awesome view of the Seattle skyline at night, but at around 11:45 the cops came by to tell us that the park was closed and we headed home to get some sleep so that we could get up as early as possible for the drive up to Vancouver.

It was a long couple of days, but I’m sad that it’s over, and I miss my little Vancouver family.  Now I guess I’ve gotta get back to the real world and find a job…

Well, hopefully I’ll get some pictures that mom can put up, but for now I will just leave you with a completely unrelated picture that I think is absolutely wonderful.  I call it “High Five Failure”

Ashlan

Thanks to my savior for the lending of the car. Returning the car was one of today’s chores goals.
The others were Ashlan returning several friends to Canada. Ashlan then returning to the US. The one friend that stayed behind from the returning to find her way downtown and hopefully back again, all while having english as not a first language (Korean=first). Getting a ticket for Monday’s Mariners game to a card store friend that has been supplying Carl’s habit for many years and is getting ready to close up shop. Getting Carl to the Mariner’s game in time for batting practice. Getting Ashlan to the Mariner’s game in time for the game.

Notice that many of these have destinations with implied travel involved.
So add to the list an 8 mile walk, bus rides, 2 lanes of I-5 closed in close proximity to our house, and it’s Opening Day of Boating Season which means they close exits and cross streets on one of the few other bridges across water in close proximity to our house.

We have traveled much, without going very far, and are weary for our efforts.
Many sights have been seen including an unsecured load flying out of a pickup (luckily the next vehicle took sane evasive action and actually picked up the offending load to return it to the driver of the pickup), speed humps, and a wedding in progress. We saw a lot more, but I am weary and the day is not done yet. Laundry from the onslaught of visitors has begun and must continue to be attacked. And now it is raining – harder than it has for much of the day.

Ashlan

Well, it has happened.

We have no more teenagers in the house.
At 10:04 PM today the blessed event occurred.

We were thinking/hoping that the Mariners would break the tie and win the game over the Oakland A’s.
It was the bottom of the 9th, game tied at 7-7. Mariners have the bases loaded with 2 out. It is 9:58. Jose Lopez steps up to the plate. 9:59 Ball 1, 10:00 Ball 2, 10:01 Strike 1 (looking), 10:02 Strike 2 (looking), 10:02 fouls one off, 10:02 fouls another one off, much walking around the mound, 10:03 foul ball 3,4,5, 10:04 foul ball, it just continues. Finally after 14 pitches at 10:08 Lopez hits a single and the MARINERS WIN!

Carl & I were sitting in our right-field seats with our friend Mark. Ashlan and 8 friends (1 from UBC but a Seattlite, and the other 7 UBC houseguests) were sitting in left field. Earlier in the game we delivered cupcakes to celebrate the event, and gave Ashlan a card with instructions to open it at 10:04. She said that she would, even if it meant opening the card as she was driving home. I was sooooo hoping the game would end right at 10:04. Saw her open the card. (Foul Ball) [The card was not really anything too special, but Ashlan thought it was going to say “Mariners Win”. It did have a few baseballs, but I was not confident enough to make that prediction.]

It was a very satisfying win, and a great last at bat. Ashlan said it was better to win the battle with a single than to time it perfectly with a walk off walk.

So – after a whole 15-20 minutes at home, Ashlan and her buddies are back out for their last night in Seattle. Looking at the nighttime skyline. They spent a good part of the day in the zoo looking at creatures, including a siamang that was checking out some ducks in his/her enclosure. Apparently 2 males were fighting over a female and trying to get with said female. The Siamang was really interested and kept following them around.

We love her and are happy that she had a good birthday with friends.